A neighbor recently asked something we’ve all wondered at least once — is it safe to eat food past the best by date? It’s an honest question, especially when you’re watching every dollar or relying on food bank donations. The truth is, most foods are still safe long after those printed dates…and understanding why can help you stretch your groceries further and waste less.
At Shutdown Suppers, we believe everyone deserves to eat well, without shame or confusion. Let’s clear up what those dates actually mean, what’s really safe to eat past the best by date, and how both the USDA and FDA are working to make labels clearer for all of us.
Want to make your groceries go further? Visit our Stretch & Save Cooking Tips section for practical ways to stretch ingredients and reduce food waste.
What “Best By” Dates Really Mean
Most date labels have nothing to do with safety — they’re about quality. According to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) (clicking this link will download a PDF called How to Cut Food Waste and Maintain Food Safety by the FDA), the only food product required to have a strict expiration date is infant formula. Everything else? Those “best by,” “sell by,” and “use by” dates are voluntary guidelines set by manufacturers.
- Best By / Best If Used By: Suggests peak quality, not safety.
- Sell By: For stores to manage inventory, not a safety limit.
- Use By: Indicates when quality may start to decline — food may still be safe afterward.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) confirms that most foods remain safe to eat past the best by date as long as they’ve been stored properly.
Why Food Banks and Discount Stores Use Past-Date Foods
Food banks and rescue programs often buy or receive items close to or past their “best by” date. This lets them stretch limited budgets and keep good food out of landfills. The founder of Shutdown Suppers even shops at a store that sells only past-date groceries — sometimes called salvage grocery stores, discount outlets, or dented-can stores.
These stores (and food banks) follow strict safety checks before food ever reaches your hands. If you’d like to learn more, we’ll soon have a guide called “Are Dented-Can Stores Safe?” that explains how these stores inspect, sort, and sell food that’s still perfectly good.
Tip: Search your area for “salvage grocery” or “discount food outlet.” You might be surprised by how affordable — and safe — these stores can be.
Category-by-Category: What’s Still Safe to Eat Past the Best By Date
Here’s a general guide based on StillTasty.com and the USDA FoodKeeper App:
Canned Goods
Most canned goods are safe to eat food past the best by date — sometimes for years. Check for bulging lids, rust, or leaks. Low-acid foods like beans last longer than tomatoes or fruit. Not sure whether a can is still safe? Our guide How to Tell if Canned Food Is Still Good explains the simple signs to look for.
Dry Pantry Staples
Pasta, rice, and flour can last months or even years past the date if kept dry and sealed. Cereal may lose a little crunch but is still safe to eat. Trust your senses — if it looks, smells, and tastes normal, it’s fine to keep on the shelf.
Condiments and Sauces
Ketchup, mustard, soy sauce, and vinegar-based dressings often stay safe long after the printed date. As long as they smell fine and haven’t separated strangely, they’re good to go.
Dairy and Eggs
Milk and cheese are safe if they look and smell normal. Eggs can be tested easily — place one in water; if it sinks, it’s fresh. If it floats, it’s time to toss it. Learn more about egg safety from the USDA.
Frozen Foods
Frozen food kept at 0°F is safe indefinitely (USDA source). The texture might change, but safety doesn’t. For detailed guidance on storing meals safely, read Freezer 101: How to Freeze Meals the Right Way to keep your food fresh and safe longer.
Fresh Produce and Bread
Wilted veggies can often be revived in cold water. Mold or slime? Toss it. Bread is fine past the date if there’s no mold — freeze it to extend its life.
Why So Many Labels Are Confusing
Even with all this knowledge, date labels can be confusing — and the government knows it. The FDA and USDA are now gathering feedback from food manufacturers and consumers to help make those labels clearer.
In December 2024, the two agencies jointly issued a Request for Information asking the public to share how “best by,” “use by,” and “sell by” labels affect consumer understanding and household waste. The comment period ran through March 5, 2025, and could help shape future label standards — meaning less confusion, less food waste, and more money saved at the grocery store.
“It’s estimated that confusion over different date labels causes about 20% of household food waste,” says FDA Deputy Commissioner Jim Jones. “This effort aims to make labels clearer and help families feel confident using good food safely.”
At Shutdown Suppers, we’ll keep an eye on this initiative and share updates when new guidance is released.
Quick “Check Before You Eat” Safety List
- Smell: If it smells sour, musty, or off, skip it.
- Look: Bulging cans or mold? Discard it.
- Taste: If it tastes strange, don’t continue.
- When in doubt, throw it out — but know that most foods are safe long after their date.
Compassion Over Shame
It’s easy to feel anxious about food safety when you’re doing your best to make meals stretch. Knowing what’s still safe to eat past the best by date helps ease that stress — and saves real money. You’re not alone in figuring this out.
For more ideas on long-lasting pantry staples, don’t miss 10 Foods That Last Longer Than You Think.
Tip from Shutdown Suppers: Knowledge is one of the best tools against food waste. The more you know, the more confident you’ll feel feeding your family, even on a tight budget.
Why This Matters
Every can saved from the trash is one more meal on your table. Understanding which foods are safe to eat past the best by date not only reduces waste but helps your grocery dollars go farther.
At Shutdown Suppers, we believe in neighbors helping neighbors — and helping everyone feel confident making the most of what they have. Together, we’ll get through dinner.
